There were no exemptions from the administration of torture on the ground of youth, old age or infirmity, except for pregnant women. Old men and women, young children might all be subjected to the process, only in their case the infliction must be light.[413] Eymeric laid it down that at all times the application must be moderate and that there must never be any effusion of blood. The term ‘moderate’ is vague; and it is clear that there was no strict general rule, the determining factor here, as so often with the Inquisition, being the discretion of the judge.[414] The unhappy victim, on being brought into the chamber, was first of all shown the instruments of torment and urged to confess without recourse being had to them. In some cases this alone was sufficient. But if a confession was not immediately forthcoming, the prisoner—male or female, it made no difference—was stripped naked and bound by the executioners. A second exhortation to confess followed. If still there was no confession, the victim was then actually subjected to the pain of the rack, the pulleys, the strappado and the other devices of calculated cruelty, which were regarded as appropriate for the coercion of recalcitrant suspect or unwilling witness. Continued refusal to speak led to increase in the severity of the application; further obduracy with increase in the severity of the type of torture. The refinements of cruelty in the machines and devices at the inquisitor’s disposal were so exquisite that it is marvellous with what constancy they were often endured. There were many, no doubt, who submitted at the simple threat of torture or at the first turn of the screw; others who with almost superhuman endurance bore frightful extremities of pain.